Hey everybody!
Joined this positive community back in 2015 and love the sharing of adventures, projects and knowledge. There are plenty of active people here on FB groups, but it doesn’t quite allow for information to be shared through a thread like it is on Mud. Try searching FB groups … So I decided to start another project thread here and share it with the FB people through links.
In case you want to see her, I registered her on the site here: Post in thread '60-series Registry'.
A few years back I set out researching the LM7 swap and tried to source an engine with not too many kms on it from the US for awhile. As I couldn’t find anything to suit expectations and budget, I thought I should probably pivot to what’s available in Australia. Yes, we do have V8s from Holdens but also they turned out to have become either too old, trashed, or just an expensive option.
So here we are, another Ford “Barra” swap. Existing vehicle is a 1988 RHD FJ62 vehicle with a carbureted 3F engine, H55f 5 speed manual gearbox and part-time 2wd vacuum actuated split transfer case. Currently at 425,000 kms.
Incoming: a Ford FG Falcon in-line 6 cylinder 4L engine mated with a 6 speed auto ZF6 / 6HP26 transmission and a reconditioned 80 series part-time fully mechanical HF1a transfer case.
I know a few similar swaps have been reported on the forum, e.g. by @Noot and @Matmobile, and more of these builds exist in Australia, but I’m hoping any details I can share may be helpful for others to come.
Bear with me, I’m enjoying and taking my time with this project. It will mostly be a recreational vehicle and I want to make it as reliable as I can get it.
So far (since Christmas last year), I have been collecting major parts and getting my head around various projects. Engine has been cleaned, painted and serviced with common parts such as seals, gaskets, spark plugs, sensors etc.
Have removed the stock Ford transmission cooler (a water cooled heat exchanger on the side of the engine) which will be replaced by a separate air-cooled, thermostat-controlled B&M cooler in front of the a/c condensor, to avoid milkshakes.
No work done on the car yet, but some photos of engine as purchased and done up below. The turbo that came with the package will be abandoned as the engine is naturally aspirated and this little project just turns out to be pretty costly, complicated and doesn’t contribute to the reliability I’m after.
Currently collecting parts from the US including a Tanks Inc in-tank fuel pump set-up, transmission cooler, Lokar tiptronic shifter and gear sensor / indicator kit. A used Ford Falcon thermofan and 80 series tcase shift linkage being chased here in Oz.
Joined this positive community back in 2015 and love the sharing of adventures, projects and knowledge. There are plenty of active people here on FB groups, but it doesn’t quite allow for information to be shared through a thread like it is on Mud. Try searching FB groups … So I decided to start another project thread here and share it with the FB people through links.
In case you want to see her, I registered her on the site here: Post in thread '60-series Registry'.
A few years back I set out researching the LM7 swap and tried to source an engine with not too many kms on it from the US for awhile. As I couldn’t find anything to suit expectations and budget, I thought I should probably pivot to what’s available in Australia. Yes, we do have V8s from Holdens but also they turned out to have become either too old, trashed, or just an expensive option.
So here we are, another Ford “Barra” swap. Existing vehicle is a 1988 RHD FJ62 vehicle with a carbureted 3F engine, H55f 5 speed manual gearbox and part-time 2wd vacuum actuated split transfer case. Currently at 425,000 kms.
Incoming: a Ford FG Falcon in-line 6 cylinder 4L engine mated with a 6 speed auto ZF6 / 6HP26 transmission and a reconditioned 80 series part-time fully mechanical HF1a transfer case.
I know a few similar swaps have been reported on the forum, e.g. by @Noot and @Matmobile, and more of these builds exist in Australia, but I’m hoping any details I can share may be helpful for others to come.
Bear with me, I’m enjoying and taking my time with this project. It will mostly be a recreational vehicle and I want to make it as reliable as I can get it.
So far (since Christmas last year), I have been collecting major parts and getting my head around various projects. Engine has been cleaned, painted and serviced with common parts such as seals, gaskets, spark plugs, sensors etc.
Have removed the stock Ford transmission cooler (a water cooled heat exchanger on the side of the engine) which will be replaced by a separate air-cooled, thermostat-controlled B&M cooler in front of the a/c condensor, to avoid milkshakes.
No work done on the car yet, but some photos of engine as purchased and done up below. The turbo that came with the package will be abandoned as the engine is naturally aspirated and this little project just turns out to be pretty costly, complicated and doesn’t contribute to the reliability I’m after.
Currently collecting parts from the US including a Tanks Inc in-tank fuel pump set-up, transmission cooler, Lokar tiptronic shifter and gear sensor / indicator kit. A used Ford Falcon thermofan and 80 series tcase shift linkage being chased here in Oz.
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using the stair case as a reference. 
